Pros
For those who survive the baptism by fire, it is a decent starter block for entry level lawyers to have on their CV. Not being fired/running crying from the building within six months shows other employers that you have some talent and/or fortitude.
Cons
The company culture is so vitriolic that protective eyewear and clothing should be worn at all times. The volcanic temperament of the principal partner has the entire firm on tenterhooks, ready to push their colleague, neighbour or ailing grandmother into the line of fire of his despotic wrath. Training contracts are dangled like carrots but are in fact more stick. The so called 'green' team is ironically named as those imprisoned there have not seen greenery, nor sunlight for many months. HR only exists as executioner. Those who have survived for a number of years are institutionalised, feeling their longevity marks them as special rather than suffering from Stockholm syndrome. These long-termers are often key contributors to the hostile and muck-raking atmosphere. Friday afternoons are a sort of sacrificial ceremony initiated by a phone call from the practice manager. The lamb then marches off to its fate whilst IT slip in and remove their access. This is in fact the best thing that can happen to you at the firm. Liberation.
